Curb Feelers

[Jim B]

I want to add curb feelers to my 1949 Mercury Club Coupe similar to this:

But I'm not exactly sure how to go about it.  I'm guessing that actual curb feelers are between 10" & 12" long.  It looks like they just clamp to the frame.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to make the curb feelers for Sheriff?  Got to keep the white walls clean, ya know.

Edited June 17, 2017 by Jim B

[High octane]

Wow, I haven't seen curb feelers for decades. Yes they were 'bout 10" long and did clamp to the lower sheet metal of the body. They didn't go all the way back to the frame. As far as making some, I would be in the same boat as you and would have to get reference photos (Google) and give it some though on how to construct them.

[BigTallDad]

I don't think curb feelers would be used on the driver's side of the car, only on the passenger's side.

Consider using a thin dressmaker's straight pin, grinding down the head if needed.

[SSNJim]

Interestingly enough, they are still available. They typically are mounted to the fender lips, and are a spring type device.

Here's a video of them being installed on a 90's Buick :

[TarheelRick]

Don't really understand why they were attached to the left side front and not the right side rear.  They would be more useful on the passenger side.

[Jim B]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Maybe they're attached to the left side of the car to make it look "balanced"?

[Ramfins59]

Back when I owned and drove my '59 Dodge Coronet (late 1990's), I bought and mounted curb feelers to the outer edges of the front bumper.  I put them on both sides of the car for "balance" as James has stated.

[modelercarl]

I remember curb feelers on cars in the 50's.  My grandfather always added them to his cars, two feelers on the passenger side near the front and rear wheels, never on the driver's side.  I would think the driver could see the curb from his vantage point.  Also you never saw them on a lot of cars where I lived in the suburbs as there were not any curbs but when you went into the city (Detroit) you saw a lot of them.  Kids would "kick" them when walking by to hear them "twang".  The driver listened for the scraping noise of the feeler wire to know when he/she got close to the curb.

 

[Ramfins59]

I've made scale curb feelers for models using the smallest springs I could find, like the tiny ones you would use for a carburetor return spring....... just stretch it out a bit, drill a small hole in the bottom side of the bumper and glue in the spring.

[espo]

The ones I remember seeing were mounted at the back edge of the front wheel well opening and the front edge of the rear wheel well opening. The cheep ones were just a wire much like a radio antenna with a very small round tip on the end. They would make a very scratchy sound when they hit the curb. The better ones were the spring type as they would bend somewhat and they seemed to amplify the noise better. They usually were mounted to the bottom edge of the body work with a small C clamp with a set screw to hold them in place.   

[Chillyb1]

How about a piece of guitar string? 

[Ramfins59]

How about a piece of guitar string? 

That would work too...... Use a piece of a round wound D string.

[GT4494]

Curb feelers are designed to set up a vibration in the fender before you scraped the curb. 

Since in the US the passenger side faces the curb there was no reason to put them on the drivers side.  It is against through traffic laws to park facing traffic so the drivers side should never be next to the curb.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Looks like they would be relatively easy to make with some stiff wire.

I would probably use stretched sprue a little like how I make antennas.

 

Steve

 

[Art Anderson]

I don't think curb feelers would be used on the driver's side of the car, only on the passenger's side.

Consider using a thin dressmaker's straight pin, grinding down the head if needed.

Used to see curb feelers on BOTH sides of cars back in the day.

 

[Art Anderson]

That would work too...... Use a piece of a round wound D string.

Or, even those "ball-headed" straight pins that come with new clothes,such as dress shirts--those have their heads dipped in plastic, to make the very small ball ends, which are painted silver already/

Art

[GLMFAA1]

Hey guys - It's a cartoon, Artist license is permitted, I was going to suggest guitar string since it's wound and would give the spring appearance. Haven't watched 'Cars' lately to see if they did both sides and agree it gives balance, Usually sold in pairs at western auto back in the days so most used them front and rear passenger side

He also needs the CP 100 sirens on the roof.

greg 

Edited June 18, 2017 by GLMFAA1
spelling

[SSNJim]

Since in the US the passenger side faces the curb there was no reason to put them on the drivers side.  It is against through traffic laws to park facing traffic so the drivers side should never be next to the curb.

Except in parking lots, one way streets, industrial areas....

[Art Anderson]

Hey guys - It's a cartoon, Artist license is permitted, I was going to suggest guitar string since it's wound and would give the spring appearance. Haven't watched 'Cars' lately to see if they did both sides and agree it gives balance, Usually sold in pairs at western auto back in the days so most used them front and rear passenger side

He also needs the CP 100 sirens on the roof.

greg 

Some curb feelers had springs, others were just solid spring steel wire, plated.  I've seen both types in the past.

[Jim B]

Hey guys - It's a cartoon, Artist license is permitted, I was going to suggest guitar string since it's wound and would give the spring appearance. Haven't watched 'Cars' lately to see if they did both sides and agree it gives balance, Usually sold in pairs at western auto back in the days so most used them front and rear passenger side

He also needs the CP 100 sirens on the roof.

greg 

Thanks for all of the ideas, guys.  I appreciate it.

And, yes, I am missing the CP100 sirens for the roof.  Not exactly sure how I'm going to make those either.  I have a 1/32 Revell Mack CF600.  Maybe there is something in there I can use.

[geewhiz]

Cool stuff, guys...Don't forget the necker knob for the steering wheel!!!  They were quite popular back in the day 50's & 60's!!!

Edited June 19, 2017 by geewhiz
Added photos

[Jim B]

Interesting.  I'm not sure a police car would have one of those, though; but I could be wrong.  It's been know to (frequently) happen.